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G. S. PRICHARDKB J. W. TAYLOR.

BAG STRINGING MACHINE.

V vb 8 a George SPrzldz arw Patented Apr. 26

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G. S. 1?BIOHARD & J. W. TAYLOR.

" BAG STRINGINGVMAGHINE.

N0. 602,915. Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

GEORGE S. PRlOl-IARD AND JAMES W. TAYLOR, OF GOLDSBOROUGH, NORTHCAROLINA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FIFTEENTH TO JAMES EDGAR SMITH, OF-lVASlIINGTQN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BAG-STRINGING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,915, dated April26, 1898.

Application filed July 7, 1897. fierial No. 648,711. (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE S. PRICHARD and Janus W. TAYLOR, citizens ofthe United States,residing at Goldsborough,in the county of Wayne andState of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Bag-StringingMachine; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of our invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings.

Tobacco-bags, salt-bags, flour-bags, and the like are provided at theirmonths with shirring or puckering strings, which when drawn taut closethe bags and retain their contents. These shirring-strings are usuallyinclosed in a hem formed at the mouth of the bag by turning over theedge of the bag material and stitching or otherwise fastening the same.Two strings having their knotted ends extending from opposite sides ofthe bag-mouth are generally used, and the bag is closed by pulling uponthese free ends in opposite directions. At the present time thesestrings are inserted by hand, a bodkin serving to draw the stringsthrough the circular loop or hem at the mouth of the bag.

This invention is an improvement in bagstringing machines, and has forits objects to provide a machine which will string bags rapidly,accurately, and cheaply, and yet be simple in its structure, easilyoperated, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these objects in view the invention resides in the various noveldetails of construction, in the combinations of the parts, and in themachine as an entirety.

In the accompanying drawings, to which.

reference is made and in which like letters indicate correspondingparts, Figure 1 is a view showing the machine in side elevation. Fig. 2is a view showing in plan a portion only of the machine. Figs. 3, 4:, 5,6, 7, 8, and 9 are views showing in perspective certain parts of themachine, giving them more in detail than as elsewhere shown. Figs. 10,11, and 12 show in plan one of the details of arrangement of the parts,illustrating the manner in which the bags are strung. Fig.

13 shows a modification of one of the parts, and Fig. let shows how thestring is dropped from the needles and a new one inserted.

In the drawings the letter A indicates a frame supporting the machine, Ba powershaft for communicating motion to it, and C and D the maindivisions of the apparatus itself, G designating the needle mechanismand D a wheel for presenting bags to the needles one after another, thetwo devices being operated from the main power-shaft and so synchronizedthat a bag is presented to the needles for each complete forward-anl-backward movement of them, another bag following in time for theirnext reciprocation.

The power-shaft is supported by the standards b or in any suitablemanner and is driven by means of the pulley b or otherwise, as may beconvenient. A wheel orthe like B is secured upon the shaft at one endand carries a grooved way 11 across its center, wherein one end of thecrank-arm b is secured by a pivot-pin, the stroke of the said crank-arm12 being regulated by adjustment in the said grooved way Zr. Thepower-shaft carries also a cylinder 13 secured upon it, and thiscylinder has a cam-groove b in its face.

The needle mechanism 0 consists of ways 0, bolted to the frame, spacedfrom each other at their tops and bottoms, and these Ways riage isregulated by adjusting the stroke of the crank-shaft b Taking the partsas shown in Fig. 1, each revolution of the power-shaft are usuallyrather blunt and are held with their spring-eyes uppermost for ease ininserting the string. The ways 0 have a crosspiece 0 between theirforward ends, which serves to space them and also as a bed for thespring-catch 0 which is adapted to engage depressions in the rim of thewheel D and hold the same from accidental movement. This spring-catch chas a rounded head, as shown in Fig. 6, and the depressions it engageshave gentle slopes, so that force exerted upon the wheel will release itfrom the action of this detent, the purpose to be accomplished by whichis merely to steady the wheel when not caused to revolve by themechanism to be described.

The wheel D is suitably mounted in a horizontal position upon the frameA by the axle d, so that its axis lies in avertical plane passingthrough an imaginary line formed by a point midway between the needlesduring the reciprocation of the needle-carriage a. This wheel consistsof a hub 61', spokes (1 which extend therefrom,-and a rim or periphery dsecured to the outer ends of the spokes. These spokes are bent at rightangles to themselves near their outer ends, and the rim is secured tothem in any suitable manner, such as by the brackets (2 so that the rimis raised above the plane of the main body of the spokes and isapproximately in the horizontal plane of reciprocation of theneedle-carriage c',nearly touching the cross-piece c in the ways whichsupport said carriage. The rim d is an annular plate of metal or thelike and has indentations d radially opposite each other in its innerand outer edges, and each pair of these indentations corresponds inradial position with a spoke, so that a plane passed vertically throughany pair of them would also pass through the axis of the wheel andthelongitudinal center of a spoke.

The indentations 61 upon the outer edge of the rim are adapted toreceive the detent or spring-catch 0 mounted in the cross-piece c of theways cof the needle mechanism, thereby maintaining the alinement of thespokes d with the central line of reciprocation of the needle-carriage.

A rigid standard cl (seen best in Fig. 5) is secured to the upper faceof the rim between each pair of indentations, and a spring-standard (Zis adj usta-bly secured upon each spoke, so that it-may be placed at anyrequired distance from the inner edge of the rim, the inner indentations61 allowing the spring-standard d to approach close to at. These twostandards form the bag-holding device, the bag X, after manufacture,beingplaced mouth downward upon them, the spring-standard d stretchingthe bag, so that its sides lie nearly parallel to each other. Stops (Zmay be placed upon the standards to regulate the position of the bag, sothat the hem w of the bag will lie on either side of the standards indirect lines with the lines of reciprocation of the needles 0 It is tobe noted in this connection that the thickness of the standard d issomewhat less than the distance between the needles 0, whereas the widthof the springstandard d is nearly or quite equal to this distance.

To insure the entry of the needles 0 into the hem w as they move forwardto the bag, eccentrically-mounted gripping-hooks d are provided, theirfunction being to catch the outer webs of the hem on either side of thestandard 61 stretch the same away from the inner webs, and guide theneedles to the points in the material punctured by them. These hookshave grooves al which are adapted to guide the needles, and they arepivoted eccentrically upon the rim d by means of the camlevers d. Eachcam-lever consists of a slotted arm c1 which straddles a guide-pin 01 anenlarged head (Z inclosing a disk revolving upon a pivot 61 away fromits center and having a pin or lug d projecting through an opening inthe rim d The curve described by the hooks d can be regulated as to itslength and angle by adjustment of the pin (Z so that the hooks may bemoved first toward the bag-hem to catch the outer web thereof, andthenaway from it to stretch this outer web from the inner web, therebyopening channels in the hem for the passage of the needles. This is themovement illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, where the action of thegripping-hook is exaggerated the more clearly to show the same.

To move each pair of eccentrically-mounted gripping-hooks at the sametime, the lever d is used. This lever consists of a handle (Z from whichextend forked arms d which are pivoted on either side of the wheel-spoke(Z whence they are bent upwardly to form bellcranks and have theirextremities extended laterally as slotted arms (Z Theselaterallyextending slotted arms (1 loosely engage within them the lugsor pins d of the eccentricallymounted cam-levers d A spring (Z normallypresses the handle 61 upward from the spoke d forcing the lever toassume the position indicated in Fig. 3, while a springcatch (Z securedto the spoke, is adapted to hold the lever when depressed. Everydepression of the lever 61 causes the grippinghooks to go through thepositions shown successively in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, and when the hemof the bag has been stretched, as shown in Fig. 12, the spring-catch (1holds the lever d", and therefore the gripping-hooks d, in positionuntil released by hand. It will be observed that the wheel D carries anumber of bag-holding and hem-opening devices corresponding to thenumber of spokes in the wheel. These devices are all alike, and theobject of this multiplication of similar parts is to enable one operatorto place the bags upon the standards and set the grippinghooks in thebag-hem at one part of the wheel while the needles, fed with string byanother operator, are stringing the bag on the part of the wheel in linewith the reciprocating needle-carriage.

The wheel D is rotated in one direction by intermitting impulsesreceived from the main power-shaft through the mechanism shown in Figs.1 and 2. In the surface of the cylinder 13 is cut a cam-groove 19 whichis adapted to receive a loose pulley b attached to one end of a leverI), which is bent at an angle to itself and pivoted vertically at b tothe frame A, between which and the spokes of the wheel D it is extendedhorizontally in the arm 12 At the extremity of this arm a spring-pressedlatch b extends upwardly far enough to en-' counter the spokes d thebeveled face of the latch easily passing the spokes-11.6. ,thelatchspring being weaker than the spring of the detent c and the flat orrounded side of the latch impinging against the said spokes when thelever moves in the opposite direction. The wheel may be caused torevolve either toward the right or toward the left by means of thisspring-pressed latch, the cylinder B being capable of longitudinalmovement along the power-shaft by means of a spline or the like.

The cam-groove b is so cut as to cause the lever 12 to oscillate throughthe paths shown in Fig. 2, and the curves of this groove are so timedwith the revolutionof the crank-wheel B that the bag-wheel D is movedspoke by spoke between the time when the needles recede from the guidesd in the gripping-hooks (1 the wheel D being at rest during the time theneedles complete their forward movement and accomplish so much of theirbackward movement as carries them out of the range of the saidgripping-hooks. As shown in Fig. 2, when the arm 19 is in the positionindicated by the solid lines the needles, which are not shown, have justreceded from the grippinghooks d", and the lever, guided by the cam-'groove, is about to begin an oscillation to the right, carrying with itthe particular spoke of the wheel against which the flat or rounded sideof its sprin g-pressed latch is pressed. In this movement the forceexerted by the lever upon the wheel is sufficient to drive the detent 0back against its spring, andthe movement is continued until the saiddetent presses forward into the next indentation (1 when the leveroccupies the position indicated in dotted lines in the said Fig. 2. Bythis time the needles have completed their backward movement and haveaccomplished so much of their forward movement as will bring them inclose juxtaposition to the gripping-hooks cl". A reverse curve in thecam-groove now carries the oscillating lever back again to the positionshown in solid lines, while the needles advance forward and thenretract, the spring-pressed latch 12* passing under the next spoke ofthe wheel to the left without moving it. This operation continuesindefinitely, the needles reciprocating over one half of their coursezI. a, that'portion thereof within the outer edge of the rim of thewheel Dwhile the wheel is at rest and reciprocating over the other halfof their con rse-i. e. that lying without the outer rim of the wheelD-while the wheel moves over anangle equal to that measured between eachpair of spokes.

,Instead of using a pair of eccentricallymounted gripping-hooks dsecured to the rim (1 near each rigid standard (1 and operating the sameby means of levers d the device indicated in Fig. 13 may be used. Thisfigure is merely a diagram, and some of the parts essential to itsoperation are omitted. As here shown, a single pair of grippinghooks dare eccentrically pivoted on the under side of a plate (not shown)secured to the needle mechanism above the path of reciprocation of theneedles. Cam-levers d, similar to those already described, control thepaths of these gripping-hooks, and these cam-levers are moved either byhand or by machinery to grip each bag immediately the detent c hasengaged the indentation 61 As shown in Fig. 13, this is accomplished bymeans of camwheels y, secured on an auxiliary shaft 'y,

and springs 11 press the cam-levers 02 backward, thus releasing the bagwhenever the force exerted by the cam-wheels is released.

The operation of the device is as follows: Bags are placed with theirmouths downward upon the standards secured to the wheel D, the hems ofall the bags lying in one plane. The gripping-hooks are moved forward togrip the outer webs of the bags on either side of each rigid standardand 'then stretch the same by moving apart from each other, a singledepression of the lever (Z accomplishing this movement, the spring-catch61 holding the lever depressed. All of the standards being now providedwith bags properly adjusted to receive the needles, the powershaft iscaused to revolve. As the needles 0 move forward an operator standing atthe side of tinue to advance and presently enter the hem 0;, beingguided thereto by the grooves c1 in the gripping-hooks 02 As the advancecontinues the portion of the string between the two needles is caught bythe rigid standard (1 and the needles still going forward the string isfinally dropped from their eyes, as indicated in Fig. let. The needlesnow have completed their forward movement, have dropped one oftheshirring-strings, laying it within" the hem at the mouth of the bag, andare ready. to begin the backward movement. Another string similar inlength to the one just described is now inserted in their springeyes 0in a manner similar to that just described, and as they are retractedthrough the bag the second string is laid within .the hem. As theneedles recede from the outer edge of the wheel D the said wheel isgiven a portion of a revolution and presents another bag before theneedle mechanism 7 by the means and in the manner heretofore de scribed.As the bags are strung an operator standing on the side of the needlemechanism toward which the wheel is caused to revolve removes the strungbags and replaces them by those which are yet to receive'shirringstrings.

It will be observed that, as described, two operators are contemplatedas feeding the machine, one placing the bags upon the wheel and anotherthreading the needles; I but the number of operators needed with thismachine is entirely dependent upon the rapidity with which it is driven.

It is to be noted that while gripping-hooks are provided to guide theneedles into the hem at the mouth of the bag no device is provided toguide them in their exit at the other ends of the hem, and this is sofor the reason that while it would be possible for the needles to make afalse entry into the hems or to miss them altogether, still when oncewithin these hems the hems themselves are guides to the blunt needles,and the needles are forced to puncture the outer web of the heme whenthey reach the spring standards (1 Having once punctured the bags at ornear the standard (:1 the needles when retracted merely retrace theforward movement and lay the second string in the same channels whichreceived the first. The bags which are now provided withshirring-strings are finished by knotting the corresponding loose freeends of these strings.

In Fig. 9 is shown a needle-guide cflwhich may be secured at any pointon the ways 0. This guide may or may not be used, but if used is to beplaced just Within the point of farthest retraction of the needles, sothat the eyes 0 will project beyond it.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a bag-stringing machine the combination with a frame, of aneedle-carriage, needles, a wheel, bag-standards secured to said wheelon its rim in line with the spokes thereof, a power-shaft connected withthe needlecarriage by a crank-shaft, a lever pivoted to the frame havingone leg engaged by a camgroove on the power-shaft and having its otherleg provided with a spring-latch, the said spring-latch extending intothe path of the wheel-spokes and being adapted to pass said spokes whenoscillated in one direction and to'move said spokes with it whenoscillated in the other direction, indentations upon the wheel in linewith the standards and spokes thereof, and a spring-detent adapted toengage the said indentations and hold the bag-standards nearest theretoin line with the central line of reciprocation between the needles.

2. In a bag-stringing machine, a frame, ways secured to said frame, aneedle-carriage adapted to reciprocate within said ways, needles securedto said carriage, a power-shaft,

a crank-shaft pivoted to and connecting the said power-shaft and theneedle-carriage, a wheel mounted upon the frame with its rim nearlytouching the aforesaid ways, the said rim lying approximately in theplane of reciprocation of the needles, and within about one-half oftheir forward thrust, the said rim having indentations on its outer edgewhich are in radial alinement with the spokes of the wheel and haveadjacent to them also in alinement with said spokes bag-holdin g standards, a spring-detent secured to the needleways and adapted to engagethe indentations in the rim of the wheel, a cylinder secured upon thepower-shaft, a cam-groove in the said cylinder having its points oflateral departure lying within a plane approximately at a right angle toa plane passed through that diameter of the power-shaft which coincideswith a line connecting the center of said shaft with the center of thecrank-pin when the crank is at its greatest thrust, a lever pivoted tothe frame having one end engaged by the said cam-groove, and having aspringlatch upon its other end, the said spring'latch projecting intothe path of the spokes of the wheel, and adapted to move the wheel bysaid spokes in one direction through an are equal to that measuredbetween said spokes.

3. In a bag-stringing machine, a needlecarriage, needles securedthereto, means for reciprocating the same, in combination with a Wheelmounted approximately in the plane of reciprocation of the said needlesand within the path thereof, the said wheel being provided withbag-holding standards, grippinghooks on either side of said standards,and means for revolving the said wheel by intermittent impulses througharcs equal to the distance between said bag-holding devices.

4:. In a bag-stringing machine the combination with standards adapted toreceive and hold the bags, of gripping-hooks adapted to enter the hem ofthe bag and stretch the same away from the said standards.

5. In a bag-stringing machine,the combination with bag-holdingstandards, of grippinghooks pivoted eccentrically on both sides of saidstandards and adapted to move in a curve approaching the said standardsuntil they nearly touch it and then to recede therefrom.

6,. In,a bag-stringing machine the combination with. bag-holdingstandards of grippinghooks pivoted on either side thereof, the saidgripping-hooks being provided with needleguides.

7. In a bag-stringing machine the combination with eccentrically mountedgrippinghooks, one on eitherside of a bag-standard, of means adapted tomove the said hooks toward the said standard at the same time.

8. In a bag-stringing machine the combination with a wheel, apower-shaft and a pair of reciprocating needles, of bag-standardssecured upon the rim of the said Wheel having eccentrically mountedgripping hooks on either side of them, means for holding the tool i z aZ said standards in line between the said nee- In testimony whereof wehave hereunto Set dles as they are thrust forward and retracted ourhands in the presence of two subscribing 10 within the outer edge of therim of the wheel, witnesses.

and means for moving said wheel over an arc GEORGE S. PRICHARD. equal tothe distance between the standards JAMES W. TAYLOR.

upen it when the needles retract from the Witnesses:

outer edge of its rim and before they enter it WV. H. HUGGINS,

again. Joe. H. PRIGHARD.

